ARS | Publication request: Chemical Characterization of Phosphorus in Soils Amended with Biosolids and DWTRs

Submitted to: Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract
Publication Acceptance Date: June 3, 2008
Publication Date: October 5, 2008
Citation: Poulter-Miller, S., Zhang, T., Huff, D., He, Z., Lin, Z. 2008. Chemical Characterization of Phosphorus in Soils Amended with Biosolids and DWTRs. Soil Science Society of America Annual Meeting. October 2008; CD-ROM.

Technical Abstract: The concept of co-application of biosolids and drinking water treatment residues (DWTRs) represents an environmentally sustainable and economically sound strategy for the management of municipal solid wastes. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of reducing water-soluble P in biosolids-amended agricultural soil by the addition of DWTRs. Results showed that total P in soil leachate was significantly reduced during the initial 42-days of a 200-day greenhouse study when biosolids (50 g/kg) were applied along with DWTRs (40 g/kg). Particulate P was the dominant fraction of P in the soil leachate, which decreased with increasing DWTR application rate. The application of DWTRs does not significantly decrease the growth and yield of wheat. The primary P species in biosolids include Cu-, Ba-phytate, and copper phosphate. The addition of DWTRs to biosolids alternated P speciation, and the P speciation change became significant with increasing incubation time. The chemical component of Cu phosphate became non-significant (<5%) with the addition of DWTRs. During the 14-day incubation time period, the proportion of P that was adsorbed on amorphous Fe(OH)3 increased substantially from 8 to 46% and Ba6IP6 increased steadily from 30 to 50%, while the proportion of Cu phytate decreased significantly from 53 to 5%. The amorphous Fe(OH)3-adsorbed P and Ba phytate formed the dominant P chemical components in the mixture of biosolids and DWTRs.